MX2008013370A - Detergent composition. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aqueous detergent composition comprising the following elements in the indicated amounts expressed as percentage by weight: a) 0.1-15% of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate of formula (I): R-O-(CH₂CH₂O)_m-CH₂- COOX wherein, - R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, - m represents a number comprised between 0.5 and 20, and - X represents hydrogen or a suitable cation, selected from an alkaline metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylamino, alkanolamino or glucammonium, b) 0.1-15% of at least one amine oxide, c) 0.1-40% of at least one alkyl ether sulfate type anionic surfactant with a hydrocarbon chain containing between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, d) water up to 100%; said detergent composition is particularly suitable for manual dishwashing, for washing kitchen utensils, as well as in certain domestic cleaning applications of general use, such as the cleaning of hard surfaces.

Description

DETERGENT COMPOSITION Field of the art The present invention relates to an aqueous detergent composition comprising alkyl ether carboxylates, amine oxides and at least one anionic surfactant of the alkyl ether sulfate type. Said detergent composition is particularly suitable for the manual washing of dishes, kitchen utensils, as well as in certain household cleaning applications for general use, such as cleaning hard surfaces.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART Most of the known detergent compounds use anionic, amphoteric and / or nonionic type surfactants to obtain a final product which shows satisfactory properties in terms of detergency and foam profile. However, most of these compounds are not generally satisfactory in terms of the problem of ecotoxicity and eye and skin irritation. On the other hand, in a large number of applications where surfactants are used, consumers seek to form a large amount of foam. For example, a shampoo that does not produce a stable and creamy foam during the washing process is expected to be not well accepted in the market. The same applies to manual dishwashing, even when a direct relationship can not be established between the foaming power and the implying efficiency.

The main characteristics of surfactant formulations related to foam that determine their use in areas such as personal care and household cleaning, the food industry, fire fighting, mineral flotation, and many others are : the ability to foam, the stability of the foam (the foam remaining after a period of time), the amount of the foam (associated with a good cleaning effect), the creaminess of the foam (associated with a conditioning effect) ), the density of the foam, the texture of the foam and the rapidity in the formation of foam (foam produced after a very short period of time). On the other hand, it is desirable that the foam be obtained quickly (for example after a few seconds). In addition, the foam must tolerate hard water and the presence of oil and / or grease. The number of combinations of surfactants that solve this complex requirement tends to be reduced, which explains why the same formulations are always on the market. One way of overcoming this problem would be to incorporate additives called boosters or enhancers of foam formation. On the other hand, liquid dishwashing detergent compositions, also referred to as liquid-light detergent compositions ("light-duty liquid (LDL) detergent compositions"), are well known in the art. Such products are generally formulated to provide very varied aesthetic and performance characteristics and properties. First and most prominently, the products for dishwashing they should be formulated with types and amounts of surfactants and other cleaning adjuvants that offer acceptable solubilization and elimination of food stains, especially the grease stains of the dishes to be cleaned with, or in the aqueous solutions formed from said products. In addition to being suitable for dishwashing, the LDL or gel compositions will also desirably possess other attributes that improve the aesthetics or perception of the consumer of the effectiveness of the manual dishwashing operation. Therefore, the liquids or gels for the manual washing of the useful tableware should also use materials that improve the foaming characteristics (suds) of the washing solutions formed from said products. The foaming performance encompasses both the production of a suitable amount of foam in the wash water initially, as well as the formation of foam that lasts well in the dishwashing process. Washing liquids or gels for manual dishwashing must also use materials that improve the phase stability of the product at low temperatures. The absence of phase stability can lead to unacceptable aesthetic and rheological properties, as well as performance problems. In addition, liquids and gels for manual dishwashing must use materials that improve the dissolution or speed of mixing the product with water. In addition, dishwashing liquids and gels should use materials that improve the tolerance of the system to hardness, especially to avoid precipitation of calcium salts from anionic surfactants. HE he knows that the precipitation of the calcium salts of the anionic surfactants produces the suppression of foam and the irritation of the skin.

On the other hand, detergent compositions containing alkyl ether carboxylates, amine oxides and an anionic surfactant are well known to those skilled in the art.

Thus, patent application GB-A-2219594 discloses a liquid detergent composition comprising, expressed as a percentage by weight, a) 10-40% of an anionic surfactant selected from polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, alkylbenzene sulphonate, c-olefin sulphonate, alkane sulfonate and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylate, b) 0.5-10% of a tertiary amine oxide, c) 0.5-10% of an adduct of propylene oxide and polyhydric alcohol, and d) 0.5-10% of a sulfobetaine. According to what is described in GB-A-2219594, said composition is transparent and has an excellent detergent and foaming capacity, as well as good stability at low temperature. In the examples of the aforementioned application GB-A-2219594 the polyoxyethylene (3) dodecylether sodium carboxylate is described, but only in combination with the dodecyldimethyl amine oxide, and the dodecylhydroxy sulfobetaine.

On the other hand, the patent application DE-A-4233385 discloses an aqueous liquid composition for body cleansing comprising, expressed as a percentage by weight, 5-50% of an anionic surfactant of the sulfate, sulfonate or alkyl phosphate type and a mixture of a) 0.1-5% of at least one polyether alkyl carboxylic acid or its salts of formula R- (CH2CH20) n-0-CH2-COOX wherein R is a C8-C2o alkyl group, n is a number included between 2 and 20, and X is hydrogen, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or an alkylammonium or alkanolammonium group, b) 0.25-5% of at least one amine oxide surfactant and c) 0.1-5% of minus an amphoteric surfactant. Optionally, the composition also comprises alkyl polyglucosides. In the examples of said application DE-A-4233385 a shower gel is described which comprises 20% by weight of sodium lauryl ether sulfate, 2.5% by weight of lauryl dimethyl ilamine oxide, and 2.5% by weight of C12 -C14 alkyl ether (10 EO) carboxylate magnesium, among other ingredients.

Patent application OA-9520025 discloses low foaming detergent compositions which spontaneously emulsify the fats comprising, expressed as a percentage by weight, a) 5-99% of a carboxylated branched detergent surfactant selected from Ci.sub.2- alkyl. C16 ethoxy carboxylates and secondary soap Cn-C2o, preferably secondary soap Cn-Ci3, b) 0.1-40% of a C0-C22 amine oxide. As indicated in the patent application WO-A-9520025, the alkylethyloxy carboxylates are compounds of the formula RO- (CH 2 CH 20) x -CH 2 -COO-M + in which R is a Ci 2 -Cl 6 alkyl group, preferably Ci 2 - Ci 4 alkyl, x is a number between 3 and 10, preferably between 4 and 10, and M is a cation preferably selected from an alkali metal, ammonium, mono-, di- and triethanolammonium, more preferably sodium, potassium, ammonium or mixture thereof. In the examples of the aforementioned patent application WO-A-9520025 there are described low foaming compositions comprising Ci2-Ci3 amine oxide and alkylethoxy (1-3) carboxylates.

On the other hand, the patent application WO-A-9520027 describes detergent compositions that produce a lot of foam formation and that spontaneously emulsify the fats in liquid or gel form comprising, expressed as percentage by weight, a) 5-99% of a detergent surfactant selected from fatty acid polyhydroxyamides, alkylpolyglucosides, C8-C22 alkyl sulphates, Cg-Ci5 alkylbenzene sulphates, C8-C22 alkyl ether sulphates, C8-C22 olef insulfonates, C8-C22 paraffinsulfates, C8-C22 alkyl glyceryl ether sulfates, fatty acid sulphonate esters, secondary sulfated alcohols, Ci2-Ci6 alkyl ether carboxylates, surfactants ampholytic, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof, and b) 8-30% of a C10-C22 amine oxide / in which the pH is between 6 and 10 and the ratio between amine oxide and surfactant is between 2 and 10. : 1 and 1: 4. The alkylethyloxy carboxylates described in the patent application WO-A-9520027 are the same as those described in the patent application WO-A-9520025.

Finally, the patent application GB-A-2292562 discloses liquid detergent compositions comprising, expressed as a percentage by weight, a) 0.5-50% of one or more anionic or non-ionic surfactants or mixture thereof selected from Cii C24 sulfonates, Cn-C24 alkyl or alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl sulfates with 1 to 15 alkoxy groups, alkyl polysaccharides and polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, and b) 0.1-20% of a mixture of amine oxides. As described in the patent application GB-A-2292562, said detergent compositions can include alkyl ethoxy carboxylates. Said alkylethyloxy carboxylates are the same as those described in patent applications WO-A-9520025 and WO-A-9520027. In the examples of the aforementioned patent application GB-A-2292562 describes liquid detergent compositions comprising i) 17% by weight of C12-Ci3 alkyl ethoxysulfate ii) 2% by weight of alkyl Ci2-Ci4 amine oxide i) 7% by weight of C8 alkyl amine oxide iv) 0.5% by weight of alkyl Ci2-Ci4 dimethylamine oxide v) 2.0% by weight of Ci2-C14 alkyl ethoxy carboxylates among other ingredients.

Although the compositions described in GB-A-2219594, DE-A-4233385, OA-9520025, WO-A-9520027 and in GB-A-2292562 have a certain foam-forming power, in certain cases it is required that the formation of foam is higher and / or more stable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention offers an efficient solution to the aforementioned problems of the state of the art, by providing an aqueous detergent composition comprising, in the amounts indicated, expressed as a percentage by weight, the following elements: a) 0.1 -15% of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate of formula (I) R-O- (CH2CH20) m-CH2-COOX (I) wherein, R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, m represents a number comprised between 0.5 and 20, and X represents hydrogen or an appropriate cation, selected between an alkali metal, a metal alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylamino, alkanolamino or glucamonium, 0.1-15% of at least one amine oxide, 0.1-40% of at least one anionic surfactant of the alkyl ether sulfate type with a hydrocarbon chain containing between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, water up to 100%.

The use of said detergent composition for the manual washing of dishes or for cleaning hard surfaces is also part of the object of the invention. Also part of the object of the invention is the use of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate of formula (I) RO- (CH 2 CH 20) m-CH 2 -COOX (I) wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, m represents a number comprised between 0.5 and 20, and X represents hydrogen or an appropriate cation, selected from an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylamino, alkanolamino or glucamonium, as an agent amplifier or driver of the formation of foam in detergent compositions for manual dishwashing or for cleaning hard surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Alkyl ether carboxylates are products well known in the art. They are usually obtained from the alkoxylation and subsequent carboxymethylation of fatty alcohols as described by eijer and Smid in Polyether Carboxylates; Anionic Surfactants; Surfactant Sciencie Series, Vol. 56 (pp. 313-361), edited by Helmut W. Stache, ISBN: 0-8247-9394-3. The process of obtaining consists of two stages, the first being the reaction of a hydrocarbon chain alcohol of the desired length with ethylene oxide under normal reaction conditions, known to the person skilled in the art. On the other hand, it is also possible to start from a previously ethoxylated alcohol. The ethoxylated alcohol is then reacted with a strong base, for example NaOH, KOH or NaOCH3 in the presence of a reducing agent, such as sodium borohydride, to form the corresponding alkoxylate. This product is reacted with sodium monochloroacetate to form the corresponding alkyl ether carboxylate in salt form. Said salt is converted into the corresponding acid by washing with sulfuric acid. Through this process, alkyl ether carboxylates with a wide distribution of polyoxyethylene (broad degree of ethoxylation) are obtained. For special applications, ethoxylation can be catalyzed by a Lewis acid or by Na metal or NaH to obtain a narrow distribution of polyoxyethylene (degree of close ethoxylation).

On the other hand, the alkyl ether carboxylates can be obtained, moreover, as described in the European patent application EP-A-0580263.

According to the invention, it is preferred that in the alkyl ether carboxylates of the general formula (I), R is an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 3 and 9 carbon atoms, more preferably between 5 and 7 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated. Also preferred are alkyl ether carboxylates of general formula (I) in which m is a number between 1 and 15, more preferably between 1 and 10, even more preferably between 3 and 9. Finally, alkyl ether is also preferred. carboxylates of the general formula (I) in which X is hydrogen or an alkali metal.

The total content of alkyl ether carboxylates of formula (I) in the detergent compositions of the invention may be between 0.1% and 15% by weight, preferably between 0.5% and 10% by weight, even more preferably between 1% and 7% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. Examples of commercially available alkyl ether carboxylates of formula (I) are those which correspond to the commercial reference AKYPO ® LF1 (INCI Capryleth-6 Carboxylic Acid), AKYPO ® LF2 (INCI Capryleth-6 Carboxylic Acid), AKYPO ® LF4 (designation INCI Capryleth-9 Carboxylic Acid + Hexeth-4 Carboxylic Acid) and AKYPO ® LF6 (INCI name: Capryleth-9 Carboxylic Acid + Buteth-2 Carboxylic Acid), all marketed by KAO Chemicals Europe.

Amine Oxide Suitable amine oxides according to the present invention are amine oxides with a hydrocarbon chain containing between 8 and 18 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the amine oxides of formula (II) I Rx- (A-R2) X-N = 0 (II) I wherein, Ri represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, R 2 represents an alkylene group containing between 1 and 6 carbon atoms, - A represents a group selected from -COO-, - CONH-, -OC (O) -, and -NHCO-, x represents 0 or 1, and R3 and R4 independently represent an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing between 1 and 3 carbon atoms. According to the invention, it is preferred that in the amine oxides of the general formula (II), Ri is an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 10 and 16 carbon atoms, preferably an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 10 and 14 carbon atoms, more preferably a lauric group (12 carbon atoms) and / or a myristic group (14 carbon atoms). Also preferred are the amine oxides of general formula (II) in the A is a group -COO- or -CONH-, more preferably -CONH-. It is also preferred that R2 is a methylene group (-CH2-) or ethylene (-CH2-CH2-). Also, it is preferred that R3 and R4 are each a methyl group. The total content of amine oxides in the detergent compositions of the invention may be between 0.1% and 15% by weight, preferably between 0.5% and 10% by weight, even more preferably between 1% and 7% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. Examples of commercially available amine oxides of formula (II) correspond to the commercial reference OXIDET ® DM-20 (INCI name Lauramine Oxide), OXIDET ® DMCLD (INCI designation Cocamine Oxide), OXIDET ® DM-246 (INCI name) Cocamine Oxide), OXIDET ® DM-4 (INCI name Myristamine Oxide), OXIDET ® L-75 (INCI name Cocamidopropylamine Oxide), all marketed by KAO Chemicals Europe.

The alkyl ether sulfate As anionic surfactants of the alkyl ether sulfate type with a hydrocarbon chain containing between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, the metal salts of said alkyl ether sulphates can be used as well as the ammonium salts or the salts of organic amines with alkyl or hydroxyalkyl substituents.

Preferred as anionic surfactants of the alkyl ether sulfate type are the sodium alkyl ether sulfates with an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 0.5 to 7, with an alkyl or alkenyl chain containing between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, more preferably with an average degree of ethoxylation. comprised between 1 and 5, with an alkyl or alkenyl chain containing between 12 and 16 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred as anionic surfactant are sodium lauryl ether sulfate (INCI Sodium Laureth Sulfate), preferably with an average degree of ethoxylation comprised between 1 and 3, more preferably between 1 and 2.5, more preferably between 2 and 2.5. The total content of anionic surfactant of the alkyl ether sulfate type in the detergent compositions of the invention may be between 0.1% and 40% by weight, preferably between 5% and 40% by weight, even more preferably between 10% and 40% by weight, % and 35% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. Examples of anionic surfactants of the commercially available alkyl ether sulfate type are those that correspond to the commercial reference EMAL ® 270D or EMAL ® 270E (INCI Sodium Laureth Sulfate), containing 70% of active ingredient and with an average degree of ethoxylation of 2, marketed by KAO Chemicals Europe.

DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS Aqueous detergent compositions comprising, in the indicated amounts expressed as a percentage by weight, are preferred. a) 0.5% -10%, preferably between 1-7% of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate as described above, b) 0.5% -10%, preferably between 1-7% of at least one amine oxide as those previously described, c) 5% -40%, preferably between 10-35% of at least one alkyl ether sulfate as described above, d) water up to 100%.

It is preferred that the weight ratio between the alkyl ether sulfate (component c) and the alkyl ether carboxylate (component a) be between 2: 1 and 8: 1, preferably between 2: 1 and 5: 1, more preferably between 2.5 : 1 and 4.5: 1, even more preferably between 3.5: 1 and 4.5: 1.

It is also preferred that the weight ratio between the alkyl ether sulfate (component c) and the amine oxide (component b) be between 2: 1 and 5: 1, preferably between 2.5: 1 and 5: 1, more preferably between 3.5: 1 and 5: 1.

Finally, it is preferred that the weight ratio between the alkyl ether carboxylate (component a) and the amine oxide (component b) be between 1: 3 and 3: 1, preferably between 1: 2 and 2: 1, more preferably between 1: 1 and 1.5: 1.

The pH of the aqueous detergent compositions of the invention is preferably between 6 and 8, preferably between 6.5 and 7.5.

Also part of the object of the invention is the use of said detergent compositions for manual dishwashing or for hard surface cleaning preferably for manual dishwashing.

Also forming part of the object of the invention is the use of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate of formula (I) R-0- (CH 2 CH 20) m-CH 2 -COOX (I) wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 3 and 10 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, m represents a number comprised between 0.5 and 20, and X represents hydrogen or an appropriate cation, selected from an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylamino , alkanolamino or glucamonium, as an agent for amplifying or promoting the formation of foam in detergent compositions for the manual washing of dishes or in compositions for cleaning hard surfaces, preferably in detergent compositions for manual dishwashing.

The detergent compositions of the present invention can, additionally, contain one or more of the following additives, this being not a limited list: 1. Anionic surfactants such as sodium alkyl ether sulfate, alkyl ether ammonium sulfate, alkyl ether triethanolamine sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfate, ammonium alkyl sulfate, triethanolamine alkyl sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfonate, sodium alkene sulfonate such as sodium alpha olefin sulfonate, sodium alkane sulfonate, sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate such as alkyl benzene sulfonate, sulfosuccinates, and sulfosuccinamates. 2. Fatty acids or soaps derived from natural or synthetic substances such as coconut, oleic, soya and tallow fatty acids. 3. Ethoxylated alcohols 4. Esters of fatty acids derived from natural or synthetic substances such as glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, sucrose, glucose or polyglycerin. 5. Ethoxylated fatty esters derived from hydroxy type fatty acids. 6. Amphoteric surfactants such as alkyl amidopropyl betaine, alkyl betaine, alkyl amidopropyl sulfobetaine, alkyl sulfobetaine, cocoanfoacetates and cocoamphodiacetates. 7. Amides such as monoethanolamides, diethanolamides, ethoxylated amides or alkyl isopropanolamides. 8. Mixtures of alkoxylated glycerides and alkoxylated glycerin, marketed under the name LEVENOL ® by KAO Chemicals Europe 9. Alkyl polyglycosides. 10. Cationic surfactants such as alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium halides, alkyl trimethyl ammonium halides, quaternized ethoxylated amines, esterquats derived from triethanolamine, methyldiethanolamine, dimethylaminopropanediol and oligomers of said esterquats. 11. Additives to improve said formulations such as thickeners, pearling agents, opacifiers, antioxidants, preservatives, dyes or perfumes. 12. Ions of calcium and / or magnesium (in the form of magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, magnesium carbonate, magnesium nitrate and magnesium acetate) 13. Protease and / or other enzymes such as cellulase, lipase, amylase , etc.

The following examples are set forth in order to provide a person skilled in the art with a sufficiently clear and complete explanation of the present invention, but they should not be considered as limitations to the essential aspects of the object of the same, as they have been exposed in the previous sections of this description.

Ex emplos Example 1. Detergent compositions for manual dishwashing The detergent compositions for manual dishwashing of Table 1 were prepared.

Table 1. - Detergent compositions for the manual washing of dishes (percentages by weight, representing 100% of active material for each component) Components AB Cl C2 Lauryl ether sulfate 13.5 5, 13, 5 13.5 sodium1 Amine oxide2 3.0 3.0 3.0.0 3.0 C3 alkyl ether3.5 carboxylic acid3 C6-C8 alkyl ether 3.5-carboxylic acid4 Lauryl ether (4,5 3, 5 EO) carboxylic acid 5 Lauryl ether (10 EO) 3,5 carboxylic acid6 Demineralized water up to up to 100% 100% 100% 100% ^ MAL ® 270E (70% active material and with an average degree of ethoxylation of 2) from Kao Chemicals Europe 2OXIDET ® DMCL-D (coconut alkyldimethylamine oxide, 30% active material) from Kao Chemicals Europe 3AKYPO ® LF1 (capril ether carboxylic acid with an average degree of ethoxylation of 5.90% active matter) from Kao Chemicals Europe 4AKYPO ® LF4 (mixture of capril ether carboxylic acid with an average degree of ethoxylation of 8 and caproyl ether carboxylic acid with an average degree of ethoxylation of 3.89% active matter) from Kao Chemicals Europe 5AKYPO ® RLM45 CA (Lauryl ether carboxylic acid with an average degree of ethoxylation of 4.5, 92% active matter) sAKYPO ® RL 100 (Lauryl ether carboxylic acid with an average degree of ethoxylation of 10, 90% active matter) The evaluation of the different compositions was carried out from the determination of the foaming power in the presence of fat (olive oil), according to the following procedure. The foam volume of an aqueous solution of the product to be tested was determined at a concentration of 0, 4 g / L (active product), at a water hardness of 20 ° HF (French degrees), and at a temperature of 40 ° C. The measurements were made using an agitator "SITA Foam Tester R-2000" (supplied by SITA Messtechnik GmbH), working at 1500 rpm, in shaking cycles of 10 seconds. Between each agitation cycle, the volume of foam was measured and 50 L of fat (olive oil) was added. By representing the volume of foam (coordinates) against the number of oil additions (abscissas) a curve of parabolic type is obtained, with a maximum value of foam. To compare the behavior of the different products, the following parameters of the curve are taken into account: Maximum foam volume: maximum point of the curve Number of theoretical plates: cut with abscissa (number of oil additions) corresponding to a volume of 100 mL foam The results of the evaluation are shown in the Table 2.

Table 2. - Evaluation of detergent compositions for manual dishwashing The detergent compositions for manual dishwashing according to the invention (AB) have both a maximum volume of foam and a number of theoretical plates higher than that of the dishwashing detergent compositions of the comparative examples (C1-C2) , which include alkyl ether carboxylates lauric chain.

Claims (14)

1. Aqueous detergent composition comprising, in the indicated quantities expressed as percentage by weight, the following elements: a) 0.1-15% of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate of formula (I) R-O- (CH2CH20) m-CH2-COOX (I) wherein, R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, m represents a number comprised between 0.5 and 20, and X represents hydrogen or an appropriate cation, selected between an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylamino, alkanolamino or glucamonium, b) 0.1-15% of at least one amine oxide, c) 0.1-40% of at least one anionic surfactant of the type alkyl ether sulfate with a hydrocarbon chain containing between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, d) water up to 100%.

2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that in the alkyl ether carboxylates of formula (I) R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group of 3 to 9 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated.

3. Composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the alkyl ether carboxylates of formula (I) m represents a number comprised between 1 and 15.

4. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, because in the alkyl ether carboxylates of formula (I) X represents hydrogen or an alkali metal.

5. Composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amine oxide has a hydrocarbon chain containing between 8 and 18 carbon atoms.

6. Composition according to claim 5, characterized in that the amine oxide is represented by the formula (II) R3 I Rx- (A-R2) X-N = 0 (II) I wherein, Ri represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 8 and 18 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, R2 represents an alkylene group containing between 1 and 6 carbon atoms, A represents a group selected from -C00-, - CONH-, -0C (0) - and -NHCO-, x represents 0 or 1, and R3 and R4 independently they represent an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing between 1 and 3 carbon atoms.

7. Composition according to claim 6, characterized in that in the amine oxide of formula (II) Rx represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 10 and 16 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated.

8. Composition according to claim 6, characterized in that in the amine oxide of formula (II) A represents -C00- or -CONH-.

9. Composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anionic surfactant (s) are selected from sodium alkyl ether sulfate with an alkyl or alkenyl chain containing between 10 and 18 carbon atoms and with an average degree of ethoxylation comprised between 0.5 and 7.

10. Composition according to claim 8, characterized in that the sodium alkyl ether sulphate has an alkyl or alkenyl chain containing between 12 and 16 carbon atoms and with one with an average degree of ethoxylation comprised between 1 and 5.

11. Composition according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl ether sulfate, with an average degree of ethoxylation comprised between 1 and 3.

12. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, in the indicated quantities expressed as percentage by weight, a) 0.5% -10% of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate as defined in the preceding claims, b) 0.5% -10% of at least one amine oxide as defined in the preceding claims, c) 5% -40% of at least one alkyl ether sulfate as defined in the preceding claims, d) water up to 100 %. OK

13. Use of an aqueous detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 11 for manual dishwashing or for cleaning hard surfaces.

14. Use of at least one alkyl ether carboxylate of formula (I) R-O- (CH2CH20) m-CH2-COOX (I) wherein, R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, m represents a number between 0.5 and 20, and X represents hydrogen or an appropriate cation, selected from an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylamino, alkanolamino or glucamonium, as an amplifying or foam-forming agent. in detergent compositions for manual dishwashing or for cleaning hard surfaces.